ECONOMIC ZOOLOGY ENTOMOLOGY. 257 



2 molts. In the field tliey are found from a depth of a few inches to about 2 ft. 

 The i)U])al stage lasts from D to 10 days. When found in the field the pupa 

 is always inclosed in a little, oblong, earthen cell, about ^ in. long. The species 

 breeds throughout the entire season, very small larvae up to full-grown pupae 

 and adults being found during the entire season. The winter is passed in 

 the adult stage. 



As soon as the corn is planted and starts to germinate the beetles begin to 

 attack it, as many as .5 beetles having been talven from a single kernel. Some- 

 times the yomig plant may push through the earth to the surface of the ground 

 and then die, owing to the fact that the kernel has been destroyed and the 

 root system has not been developed suflSciently to support it. Details are given 

 of experiments in which a number of repellents were used, the best results being 

 obtained with oil of cajeput, citronella, and lemon. It appears that the greater 

 part of the damage may be avoided by late planting, as, in the vicinity of Rich- 

 mond, Ind., corn planted about the middle of June is but little injured. A 

 small mite (Canestrinia sp. ) has been found which apparently destroys the 

 beetle. 



A bibliography of 13 titles is appended. 



Insect enemies of corn, F. Sherman, .Jr. (Bicn. Rpt. Comr. Agr. N. C, 

 1907-8, pp. Ji91-519, figs. 11). — This article discusses the insects attacking the 

 corn plant and the methods of dealing with them. Among the more important 

 insects considered are the wireworms, cutworms, Diabrotica 12-punctata, corn- 

 root webworm (Cramltus caliginoceUus), corn bill-beetle (Sphenopliorus callo- 

 6H.S'), larger cornstalk borer [Diatnca saccharalis), chinch bug, corn ear- 

 worm (H(U')this ohsolcta), and grain weevils. 



Some insects injurious to truck crops. — The parsnip leaf-miner. The 

 parsley stalk weevil. The celery caterpillar, F. H. Chittenden ( U. S. Dept. 

 Agr., Bur. Ent. BuJ. 82, pt. 2, pp. 9-2Jt, figs. 6). 



The parsnip leaf -miner (Acidia fratria) (pp. 9-13). — This pest occurs from 

 the Atlantic seaboard to the Pacific Ocean. It has appeared in the District 

 of Columbia since 1903 in such considerable numbers that in some years beds of 

 parsnips are so extensively infested by the maggot by July that 2.5 per cent of 

 the leaves are destroyed. The larva^ under observation in 1908 transformed to 

 puppe May 22, and the first adults issued June 6. A chalcidoid parasite, Synto- 

 mosphyrnm sp., was reared by the author from the maggot. As the fly shows 

 a fondness for plants which run to seed, beds should not be planted in the 

 vicinity of parsnip or other susceptible crops. Sprays of kerosene emulsion 

 and carbolized kerosene emulsion which have been reported to be successful in 

 the treatment of young plants affected by the celery leaf-miner, are suggested 

 for use as deterrents. 



The parsley stalk weevil (Listronotus latiuseulns) (pp. 14-19). — Following an 

 account of its injurious occurrence, technical descriptions are given of the 

 stages. Mention is made of injury by the insect at Four Mile Run, Va. The 

 eggs are deposited in parsley stalks in which the larvae live and from which 

 they bore down into the roots. In some cases plants are killed by its punctures, 

 particularly when quite small and delicate, in which case the larvae desert the 

 stems by tumbling out to the ground into which they crawl and attack the 

 roots by boring in from outside. The insect has also been found in the seed 

 capsules or heads and in stalks of the common arrowhead {Sagittaria varia- 

 bilis) and in the lower parts of reeds (Phragmites). It is thought that the 

 pest can be reached with bisulphid of carbon or kerosene emulsion applied about 

 the roots in the same manner as for maggots and similar insects. 



